Kerry: Time limited for Iran's nuke talks

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 4 (UPI) -- Time for talks on Iran's nuclear program is running short, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Monday.

After they met privately in Riyadh, Kerry and al-Faisal agreed that negotiations with Iran "cannot go on forever," Voice of America reported

Kerry's agenda Monday as he continued a nine-nation trip included a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- two weeks before the secretary and President Barack Obama travel to Israel.

In Cairo Sunday, Kerry said the United States would provide Egypt with $190 million in immediate aid as part of a larger package of $450 million to help stimulate economic reforms. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi had given assurances his government will institute political and economic changes to help stabilize the divided country.

Egyptians must prepare for "hard work and compromises" and work toward "restoring stability and the Egyptian economy," Kerry said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo denied a report by Ahram Online that Kerry's departure from Egypt Sunday was delayed for about 2 hours because members of the Ultras Ahlawy -- fans of Cairo football club Ahly -- blocked the road to Cairo International Airport.

In a statement, the embassy said that protests did not affect Kerry's departure. It said the delay was the result of a longer-than-planned meeting Kerry had with Morsi.

While in Egypt, Kerry met with Morsi, Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi and Refaat Shehata, the head of Egyptian general intelligence.

Before leaving Cairo, Kerry issued a statement urging Egyptians to brace for "hard work and compromises," with a view to "restoring stability and the Egyptian economy."

Demonstrators have been protesting against Egypt's Interior Ministry and in advance of a controversial court ruling in the trial concerning last year's Port Said stadium riots in which 72 fans died.

Protesters clashed with security forces and set fire to at least two cars Sunday in Tahrir Square in Cairo, VOA said.

Kerry said he talked by phone Sunday with Mohamed ElBaradei, a leader of the country's main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front.

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